Friday, September 30, 2011

I am a self-proclaimed helpless romantic. However, I like to write (and read) love stories that don't fit the usual mold. Alan Zendell does just that in this bittersweet sci-fi romance set in a dystopian future, where hope is almost a thing of the past.

The story is told as a recollection. It begins with the narrator, the young Harry Middleton. He's a special kid of super-high intelligence, so much so that it overwhelms him at times and keeps him from relating well to his parents. His grandfather is the only one who really understands him, until Lorrie Grissom comes along. Despite being only fourteen, the two of them know that they have something very special. Even with his shaky relationship with his parents, Harry's life isn't too bad. Lorrie's, however, is quite different. Her mother, after becoming a widow, has turned to drugs and a very dangerous man.

Harry's world gets turned upside down when Harry's grandfather dies. When Lorrie disappears, he thinks his life has ended. Yet, like tragedy in real life, the ones left behind have to move on or drown in grief. Mr. Zendell handles this aspect masterfully. Harry decides to get on with his life, and though the reader (and Harry) longs for him to find Lorrie again, his decision to make positive strides starts a chain reaction that benefits everyone. He never forgets Lorrie, though, and within the pages of Harry's progression, I found myself on the edge of my seat, wondering when she'd reappear.

I won't give any more away, and the only negatives of the book were that some long political and introspective passages bogged down the pace for me. By the time I reached the last few chapters, however, I couldn't read it fast enough. The climactic ending was superbly done.

I'd recommend this book for adults, particularly those who enjoy sci-fi, dystopian, and your non-formulaic romance. Grab your copy today!

Monday, September 26, 2011

On behalf of CBLS Promotions, please welcome Belinda G. Buchanan as she tours the book blogophere with her new novel

After All Is Said And Done

***Giveaway Details Below. READ ON!***

Nobody wakes up one morning and decides that today is the day they are going to cheat on their spouse. When the opportunity presents itself however, it is ultimately a choice. And that choice, whether good or bad, can have irrevocable consequences.

Ethan and Jessica Harrington are doctors who work alongside fellow doctors Gavin and Sarah Williams. After Jessica has an affair with Gavin, their lives are thrown into turmoil as they deal with the aftermath and subsequent fallout.

For the better part of a year the four of them have been working to piece their marriages back together. Sarah and Gavin are still reeling from a devastating miscarriage, while Jessica and Ethan are hesitantly looking forward to the birth of their first child.

Sarah’s hopes are immediately shattered when she learns how far Gavin’s infidelity has gone. Suddenly thrown into an unwanted independence she fights to find her way.

Jessica struggles to repair her marriage to Ethan as they become parents. But when Ethan, a borderline alcoholic, learns a dark secret, his world steadily begins to crumble. His drinking, fueled by this discovery slowly engulfs him. Jessica’s love for him is only matched by her fear of his temper. With his marriage now in pieces and his sanity questionable, Ethan struggles to come to terms with his alcoholism and face his past.

Theirs is a story of the tremendous amount of love some people have for one another, regardless of the pain that is sometimes inflicted.

Excerpt:

Later in the evening, Jessica sat at the kitchen table biting her nails. Grace had gone to the grocery and Paul was having dinner with a client. The past hour she had done nothing but think about buying that house and all the responsibilities that came with it.

She was deep in thought when the doorbell rang. She stood up and glanced at her watch. It was almost six. Thinking it was Gavin, she opened the door.

Ethan stood on the other side.

Feelings of fear, surprise and hope came over her all at once, leaving her speechless.

"I'm sorry. I know I should have called first," he said softly. "But, you won't talk to me on the phone."

The wind blew around them sending a shiver up her spine.

"Can I come in for a moment?"

She widened the door and stepped back, allowing him to come in. She noticed he was carrying a rather large package under his arm along with a smaller one. He set them down and took off his coat.

"Have a seat," she said gesturing towards the chair as she sat down on the sofa next to it.

"Thanks," he said quietly.

An agonizing moment of silence dragged by.

"Where's Ryan?"

"He's not here. He's out...with Gavin," she said hesitantly. There was no point in lying to him.

Ethan looked at the floor and nodded his head softly. The fact that Gavin had gotten his way seemed of little importance to him right now.

They sat in the hushed silence of the room for a long time, neither one knowing what to say.

Ethan wrestled with his emotions. “I'm sorry Jess."

"Are you?"

A look of surprise came across him. "Yes."

She shook her head as if she didn't believe him.

He reached for her hand and held it tight. "I swear to God, it will never happen again!"

She looked deep into those beautiful eyes of his. They were the ones she had once fallen in love with.

He touched the side of her face.

"Don't, Ethan," she drew away from his hand.

"Jess…I gave you a second chance once,” his voice cracked.

She looked at him for the longest time before speaking. “No you didn’t. You held it over my head every chance you could. I know how badly I hurt you, Ethan…but I also know it’s something that you just can’t quite forgive me for.”

He cast his gaze on the floor.

“I see it in your eyes when you look at me sometimes, and I hear it in your voice when we argue. I’m tired of feeling guilty over something I can’t change.”

He leaned forward. “It won’t be like that anymore. I promise, I’ll never bring it up again.”

She wiped at the tears forming in her eyes.

“Things will be different this time. I’ll quit drinking,” he pleaded with her.

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep.” She said quietly.

“I’ll stop. You have to believe me, I haven’t had a drink since that night.”

She stood up. "Do you think it's all just going to go away because you say it's going to be different?"

He stood up as well and gently grasped her shoulders. "What do I have to do to make you believe me?"

She tensed up at his touch.

He withdrew his hands.

She crossed her arms and swallowed hard. With all her soul she wanted to tell him she was pregnant. But she knew it would only bring more empty promises from him.

“I’ll do anything. Anything you say.”

She suddenly looked at him, feeling hopeful. “Will you go to an AA meeting?”

He locked onto her eyes. “No.”

Her eyes began to fill with tears as she pleaded with him. “I’ll go with you!”

“Haven’t you been listening to me? I have not had a drink since that night!"

"And just how long has that been, Ethan? Five whole days? Don’t you see what this has done to you? What it’s done to us? You need help! And you need to get it before it’s too late!”

“I am not an alcoholic!" He yelled, his fists clenched!

She took a step backwards.

He turned away and put his hands on his hips. “I’m not," he spoke quietly this time.

"Let's talk about your temper then.”

He turned.

"We both know what a bad temper you have. And when you're drunk, you can't control it. What if next time, you take it out on Ryan?"

It was an emotional blow.

"How can you even think that? I would never...ever hit Ryan," he whispered.

Her chin began to tremble. "What would you have done to me if you had gotten my car door open?”

He looked away for a moment, not knowing how to answer.

She sat down on the couch and buried her face in her hands. Her shoulders shook. She couldn’t hold it in any longer. It was over. It was over and she had no idea what she was going to do.

Ethan watched her as she cried. He made no attempt to comfort her this time.

* * * *

That night Jessica finished giving Ryan his bottle and laid him in his playpen. He seemed to sleep better in it than on his mattress.

She picked up the present Ethan had given him today. It was a very large mechanical puppy that told nursery rhymes and bedtime stories. She picked out a disc and put it in the puppy's hidden compartment on his back. She set it down next to Ryan's head and turned it on. The puppy made a whirring noise and came to life. As he spoke, his tail wagged and his mouth opened and closed.

Ryan turned over on his stomach and watched intently. He was utterly fascinated, as he reached out and tried to catch the puppy’s eyes as they winked at him.

She sat down on the bed and smiled. Her hand brushed against something. She picked up the small present Ethan had left earlier. She placed it on the nightstand next to her as she got under the covers. She lay down, letting the soft hushed tone of the puppy's voice lull her to sleep.

* * * *

Ethan sat in the darkness on the sofa in his living room. The only light came from the fire that crackled softly in the fireplace. He rested his head on the back of the cushion and sighed. There was an unopened bottle of scotch on the table. He had been staring at it for some time. The fire reflected on the side of the bottle, seeming to give it a life of it's own. The orange flames danced wildly upon it.

He could faintly hear a shutter banging on the backside of the house as the wind howled. He listened to its haunting wail as he continued to stare at the amber colored liquid. Maybe, there were times that he drank too much, he thought to himself. But, he certainly wasn't an alcoholic. He leaned forward and unscrewed the cap off the bottle. Its aroma was strong as he brought it to his lips. He stopped and rested the bottle on his leg. He looked down and noticed that his left hand was trembling ever so slightly. How had he gotten to this point in his life? His whole world seemed to be crumbling. He took a long swallow from the bottle. His body quivered as the liquid fire went down his throat. After a moment, his hand stopped trembling.

Ethan cradled the bottle in his arms as he let the alcohol comfort him. It was a true friend indeed. It knew his sorrows, but never left him. It never betrayed him, or hurt him. It knew all his dark secrets that he had hidden in his soul, but never judged him. It knew his every fear, but never taunted him. It anticipated his pain and offered him solace. He never had to explain himself to it or hide his feelings from it. It just wanted to help him. And like a lover, it held out its arms to embrace him unconditionally. He turned the bottle up and drank until the darkness engulfed him.

We've got a great mix of entries, and since we only had eight in total, no one had to be weeded out. No one added any bucks to the entry pool, but there's still a $10 Amazon gift card for the winner, PLUS an exclusive interview and/or giveaway.

For you readers, everyone who comments on the finalists' entries and leaves an e-mail address will be put into a drawing for one of five books:

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Anthologies are interesting. You get a wide range of stories and styles. Curious Hearts was no exception. Seven authors contributed to the collection, with a common theme of tough choices involving love. Within the pages were tales of time-travel, space travel, the draw toward old lovers, experimenting with new love, and a near-death experience.

Each story showcased the author's unique voice. I particularly enjoyed that some of them didn't end quite the way you'd expect. The choices that had to be made were gut-wrenching at times. There was also a good share of humor in several of these.

Some of the best unexpected twists and humor were found in Jane Carver's "A-mazing Shift", Walt Trizna's "Elmo's Sojourn", and Jenny Twist's "Doppelganger". But, you'll have to read it yourself if you want to pick your own favorites.

Because of some very explicit sexual content in the stories "Mission to Doom" and "Bi-Curious Wife", I recommend this book for adults only.

Monday, September 19, 2011

BzzAgent's newest idea, "The Daily Bzz", offers daily campaigns that the Bzz agents, like myself, can apply for by blogging and showing why they'd be a good fit for the campaign.

This one is for Kathryn Stockett's book, The Help. Like many bestsellers, it's gotten lots of hype. I've heard good and bad things about it. The movie has done quite well too, I think.

I'd really like to read it to see what the fuss is about. Then, I'd give it a review of course, because that's what I do. (see the many reviews here on the blog). And finally, I'd see the movie, because it's fun to compare.

So, really, that's the only thing I have to offer. I'm a writer, reader, and reviewer, and getting my hands on a free book is like a tiny Christmas. Gets me all wiggly inside.

For those of you who've read and/or seen "The Help", feel free to tell me what you thought of it.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Yesterday and today, I attended the KY Women's Writers' Conference. My first writers' conference ever. I'm really glad I attended, though the experience was not exactly what I expected.

First of all, I was plunged into a sea of literary writers. What's a literary writer, you might ask? If you can write 500 words about a toothpick, then you might be a literary writer. They have a gift of taking the mundane and expanding on it, fishing huge, deep meanings out of a shallow puddle on the street. It's really rather amazing.

And not me. In case you didn't notice, my style is pretty straightforward. Oh, there's meaning to it. But my writing doesn't INSIST on a meaning. Instead, a reader of mine might glean a theme or two afterwards. I'm not sure I'm literary material. Not quite on that celestial wavelength. Too plugged in to technology, maybe. Not aloof enough. Which was another thing...

The atmosphere was one of aloofness, for the most part. I have to take my shyness into consideration here, but I got this feeling that everyone was sizing everyone else up. There were moments of chattiness here and there, but it seemed like an odd, self-absorbed bunch on the whole. Plus, to my disappointment, there were few incentives. We had the workshops, a giant canvas tote bag (with but a few measly pieces of paper in it), coffee and carby offerings for breakfast. But no door prizes, no all-day coffee, no snacks, no water, apart from a few random bottles I saw on tables here and there. I wasn't sure if those were for the speakers, for the participants, for Santa Claus or what, so I didn't touch them. One of my workshop mates did share chocolate with us today, for which I am eternally grateful. She's my hero.

At a few points, mind you, I felt tempted to tuck my tail and run. I even considered leaving early today, but at the lunch break, I drove out through the horse farms around Lexington, talking myself into staying. A few things changed my mind.

For one, I befriended another mom. Her background was a little different from mine, but I find that when one becomes a full-time mom, you instantly join this commonality of motherhood . We understand each other. It's like before the tower of Babel--where everyone spoke the same language. We're comparing struggles and nodding in agreement, completely annoying the heck out of all the non-child-bearing professionals around us.

I loved it.

The other thing was the writing exercise I shared in this morning's workshop. The facilitator (an astounding literary essayist) didn't rave about it like some of the other pieces. And I don't blame her. Like I said, I'm a pretty straightforward writer. The meaning's there, but it doesn't need an excavation crew. Anyway, the story I read evoked quite a bit of laughter. Always good. I love humor. And another mom writer said it brought tears to her eyes. That alone was worth the time spent writing it! Anytime I can evoke emotion in someone with what I write, I consider that a success.

So, the bottom line is:

1. I am not a literary genius.

2. That's ok.

3. I want to do it again.

So, for kicks and giggles, I'll share today's writing exercise. This is a darn long post already (aren't you glad I added pictures?). But, this particular very short piece mirrors the flash fiction story I wrote last year called Buyer's Remorse, in which a mom is thinking about the choices she made, regretting them and coming to an acceptance in the end.

In this piece, our prompt was to take a character that is the opposite of ourselves and have them narrate a dream they had. It was a practice in writing in a different persona. Well, I took my alter ego (PhD, childless, rich, etc) and had her speaking to her therapist about a recurring dream that just happens to be about a morning stuck in MY life. I'm entitling it Choices. Feel free to comment. It's short.

It’s the same dream, Dr. Marley. Why do you insist I relate it to you every week? Lunesta isn’t working. Can’t I try Ambien?

Fine. Since I’m paying for the whole hour anyway, here goes.

As soon as I close my eyes, I’m standing in that godforsaken kitchen. The entire world outside is buried in fog, but it doesn’t matter. It’s dime-a-dozen suburbia, a far cry from our Manhattan townhouse.

Right on cue, the two girls tear through the room, shrieking at each other about some lead-laden Chinese toy. I try to listen and empathize and initiate a negotiation. Are they deaf?

I resort to something completely prehistoric. “Shut up!”

They look at me like I just got my doctorate yesterday and demand breakfast. So I squat and tiptoe, searching through every cabinet, but a preservative infestation stares back at me.

“Don’t you have anything organic?”

“Give us PopTarts!” they demand.

Before I can argue about the processed carbs, Rick walks in.

I want to yell at him, “Remember how we agreed on not having children? Look at you in your business casual Polo. And me—my hands are so dry, my hair unkempt, and I think this flannel nightmare is pajamas.”

I’ve been reduced to nothing, but their existence seems to hinge on me, and I don’t want it. Those girls, the little temptresses, come around the counter and hug me. Their eyes sparkle like a Twilight vampire, but they’re hazel like my mother’s. My arms rise of their own accord and wrap around their warm shoulders.

Rick smiles one of those crinkly smiles like in our college days. And that’s always when the boy runs in. He’s a clone of his father. Three, maybe four—he launches himself into Rick’s arms, and they laugh. It’s contagious.

And that’s it. I wake up. Yeah, it was a real Norman Rockwell scene. Are we done now?

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Hey peeps! Do your characters suffer from too much smiling, frowning or tears streaming down their cheeks? Do you want to explore how to more effectively convey emotion through creative means and not telling ("He was angry", etc.)?

I've been perusing this book from bestselling author Ann Hood and decided that the related exercises are worth doing. But, as in most things writing-related, if I do it in a vacuum, it's not nearly as helpful as having a friend or two to bounce ideas around.

If you're like me and have characters who smile so much people wonder what they're up to, how about you join with me and do some of these exercises?

Under the pic is the Amazon link for the book. Since I've never started a writing group like this, I thought I'd ask and see who's interested first. To avoid copyright badness, I'll ask everyone to first let me know if you're interested, buy the book,(or find it at your library, etc). Then, we'll dive into each lesson one by one and offer feedback to each other.

We could start our own Facebook group to do this or use e-mails. Facebook groups are great because you can post on a discussion board. We can give feedback to each other as we go along.

So, raise your hand (comment or e-mail) if you want to slap those smiles off your characters' faces!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Two years ago, Caleb Talbot ran from the news that he was yet another bastard son of the late Duke Billingham. Consequently, he also left Marah Farnsworth, with whom he'd shared an intense, but brief affair. When he gets the news that the man who raised him is dying, Caleb returns, ready to face his demons. He's not quite prepared to face Marah again, but every interaction makes him realize just how much she had meant to him after all.

Marah Farnsworth grew up with her own inner demons, and when Caleb left, she fled back to her grandmother's village to live a simple life. Her dear friend, Victoria, Caleb's sister-in-law, begs her to come back since her husband's father is very sick. Always one to put others before herself, Marah agrees. Except, when she sees Caleb again, the feelings come rushing back. But so do her fears. Afraid he'll abandon her like before, Marah agrees to marry someone steadier, someone she doesn't love in the least.

Now it's Caleb's job to be the man he's always wanted to be. He must choose to fight for Marah as the scoundrel he's always been or demonstrate the selflessness he admires so much in her.

This story was tame in the physical aspects compared to Jenna's other works, but for me, Caleb and Marah's story was the most touching of the series. Their battles with personal struggles were poignant. Both of them had to evolve into stronger people over the course of their story, and I found the resolution very satisfying. I did feel that the stakes could have been higher, the obstacles even tougher to overcome. Even in a romance novel, it's nice to have that little worry in the back of your mind that the two of them might NOT actually end up together. That wasn't the case here.

But, Jenna's fans won't be disappointed. I highly recommend this and the entire series for the Regency romance readers out there.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

OMG! I've caught wind of a new Kindle 3 Bzz Campaign. I cannot tell you how much I LOVE my Kindle. It was my mother's day gift and boy, do I use it!

I'm in love. Can't ya tell?

As a writer, I read as much as possible and love to review books too. Though I love the feel of a real book, the convenience of e-books is priceless. Wherever I go, my Kindle goes too. I even use it at church with a Kindle-formatted Bible. It's so easy to flip through chapters and find anything. You can even make notes and highlight things.

Why else do I love this device so much? The Kindle has opened up more reading opportunities for me, as a mom of three kids. When we travel, I take it along. I've got enough to pack with five people in the family. It saves space so I don't have to lug two or three books along or cram them into my purse. It's already filled with gummy snacks and Kleenex.

While I'm not certain I'll get into this campaign, I had to spread some Bzz about it anyway. If you have a Kindle, what do you think about it? Feel free to add your comments below.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

From September 5th to 14th, you have lots of chances to win some great books and book-related items.

Click on all the blog links (or as many as you'd like), follow their instructions, and you'll get entered into the drawings. In case you've never participated in a blog hop, it works like this: Visit the participating blogs, leave a post and follow directions to enter the giveaways. You'll usually have a chance to do some extra activities for more entries, like sharing the post on your blog, FB, or Twitter.

Here, on Unwritten, every day of the hop, one lucky soul will get a free e-book of the first installment in my fantasy romance series, A Ranger's Tale!

In case you haven't heard of it....Once upon a time an elven noblewoman longed to leave her gilded cage. A half-breed former pirate wanted nothing more than to escape his guilty past. Easier said than done...In the fantasy world of Tallenmere, the high elf, Caliphany Aranea, nearly a century old, has never been allowed to travel farther than a few miles out of the capital city of Leogard. Her father, Sirius, leads the Mage Academy, and after losing his only son, he expects Caliphany to take his place one day. The trouble is, she doesn't want to study magic and doubts she'll ever be as good a wizard as her father. She dreams of leaving Leogard to explore the world and strike out on her own--lofty goals for Sirius' daughter, who also happens to be King Leopold's niece.
When two brutes at Leogard Harbor attempt to kidnap her while she dreams of faraway lands, half-elf ship captain and ranger, Galadin Trudeaux, comes to her rescue. From their first chance encounter, to the finale, where Caliphany must decide where her heart truly lies, she and Galadin will face more adventure, more love, more heartache, than they ever thought possible. Through it all, they discover the power of forgiveness and of a love that stands the test of time.

All YOU have to do is be the first one to comment with "Rangers Rock!" and leave your e-mail address like mystiparker (at) yahoo (dot) com. The first person to do this each day will get an e-copy for a total of TEN books to TEN winners. CB&LS blog will also give away a copy on Friday, Sept. 10. Now, get to hoppin!

From time to time, I post a non-writing related subject. Today is one of those times.

I've rejoined BzzAgent.com, a wonderful place where you can try out things for free and earn more points to try out more things the more you Bzz about them! Confusing? Nah. Here are a couple of products I'm Bzzing about now:

True Care is a fantastic way to keep track of your children's social networking activities. They send you e-mail alerts when activities are flagged. I signed up for a 90-day trial. Within three hours, I received 28 alerts about my oldest daughter's Facebook page. The alerts told me when she'd interacted with an adult or when a message had a flagged word included. Luckily, I was aware of all those messages already, none of which were malicious. But, getting those alerts gave me a little more peace of mind when it comes to her online activity. I think it's still important to monitor your child's computer time personally, but this program acts as an added piece of security. Features are very customizable, allowing you to choose specific words to filter, etc. The only downside is the $9.99/month membership fee after the trial run, but if you have a few teens in the house on several different computers, it just might be worth the money!

Do you have a "senior" cat? If your kitty is 11+ years old, he's probably showing some signs of aging. Our sweet Poncho sleeps a little more now, but still has several active spells a day. We want to keep him that way, so I'll soon be trying Hill's Science Diet Senior 11+ Age Defying Cat Food. I received a coupon for a free 3.5 lb. bag from BzzAgent, and as soon as I can get to Pet Smart, I'll be picking up a bag. If Poncho approves, this food might be a regular on his menu. I'll keep you all updated as soon as we try it.

For anyone who's interested, I also have several $3.00 off coupons and brochures that I'll be happy to mail to you. Feel free to message me at the link in my right sidebar if you'd like me to send you one.